The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1887-12-09
BY WILLIAM PITTENGER,
MEMBER or THE EXPEDITION.

I0opyrighted, 1887, by War Publishing Co., N. Y,
and published by arrangement with them.
AT Ackworth they got q re enforcement
of two men, Mr.. Smith and Mr. Stockely,
and hurried forward. All idea that they
were following conscripts had now been
given up They had learned that the cap.
tors had been seen Oilng their engine, az
n preparing for long run, and seeming
toperfectly understand their work. Fuller
and Murphy were now able, Cor the first
time, to consult about their plans. We
were running on regular time-a circum
stance that they had no,ed In the reports
received from the different stations-apd
that time wns m, "iiteep miles Der hon,
which meant two hours to Kingston.
They were making seven or eight miles
ON the pole car, and that, If kept up lit
was the utmost they could do), would
bring them to Etowah in two or three
hours from the start. 'Then it," Fuller
continued, 1--WE can find the old Yonah
ready at our end of the branch, we can
take her and run up to Kingston in fifteen
minutes more. There are to be some
extra trains on the road today that will
bother the scoundrels up there, and the
chances are that wo will overhaul them at
that place, where we will get plenty of
help" "But if we do not find the
Yonah ready" was asked. "Why, then,
SO far as Gun see, we ere done" was the
reply.
They did not stop to speculate, but were
all this time pressing on at the very high
est speed possible. 1t might well he that
one minute would make all the difference
between finding the Yonah and her
starting back To the iron works, miles
away. But there was sharp Interrupt
ton just before they came in sight of
Etowah, and while they were straining
every nerve and looking forward to sec if
the smoke of the engine was yet visible.
We had taken up rail, and there was a
crash, q sense of falling, and they found
themselves lying, hand car and all, in u
heap at the bottom of Il ditch! If the en-
bankment had been as high at that place
az at many others on the road, all our
danger would have ended, for no other
party that day originated anything against
US; but the ground was almost level; and
except a few bruises, they were unhurt,
and at once placed their car on the track
again.
While doing this, they were greatly
stimulated and hurried by noticing the
smoke and steam of the Yonah, which
they could see across the long bend on
their side of Etowah river. If they could
only make the distance, little more than
a mile, before the engine went back on
the branch! With all their power, like
men working for their lives, they drove
forward. They were noon TO soon. The
engine was on the main track still, and
the tender was just being turned on the
half moon turn table, preparatory to start
ing back. But the people there saw the
furiously driven hand car, with the shout
ing, excited men on IL, and at once sus-
pended their work and gathered around
to know the cause of these frantic ges
lures. Fuller had not much breath left
10 spend in talking, but managed to say
that the Yankees had taken his train, and
that he wanted their engine, and all Of
them with their guns to follow in chase.
He, with every man of his party, was well
known and there was no stopping to ques-
ton. Their very appearance, streaming
with sweat and almost exhausted, bore
witness to the urgency of their haste. a
score Of strong arms whirled back the
tender on the turn table, and pushed it
and an empty coal car up to the engine,
while q number of Confederate soldiers
who were waiting to take the next train
southwark to Big Shanty, piled in also.
Now they were off with q strong, well
armed party, and the chase was OH more
equal terms. "The Yonah," in the
words Of Fuller, twas not strong ell
ginc. hut had large wheels was as active
rs a cat, and with light load would run
very fast" She was now just in the SER
vice adapted To her, and her drivers called
ont all her powers. AS they flew over the
ground, 1t was refreshing contrast to
the oxeTtiOns on foot or hand car. The
thirteen miles were made IN sixteen iniu
utes. IL ,the extra trains Mt Kingston
only entangled us as long Ms Fuller hoped,
The whole affair would soon bc brought to
final issuel He did not dread the fight
that was likely to follow, for our number
was only reported even yet by those who
had seen us working as eight, while he
had some twenty well armed men with
him at this stage ofthe journey and there
were the crews OF the four OF five trains
ut Kingston. Indeed Fuller and Murphy
might he excused If they rather feared
that 1.-THE Yankees" might he captured be-
fore they arrived.
CHAPTER VII.